Stage 7 - Evaluation Analysis

What is analysis?

Analysis is the process of making sense of the information you have collected. Collecting data is only the first step. Analysis helps you identify patterns, understand participant experiences and answer your evaluation questions. 

The purpose of analysis is not simply to describe what happened. It is to understand and tell the story of:

• What changed?

• Who benefited?

• Why did change occur?

• What can be improved?

Analysis does not need to be complicated

It may involve:

• Counting how many people participated.

• Looking for changes in survey responses.

• Grouping similar comments or reflections together.  

• Selecting useful quotes.

• Summarising key lessons.

• Comparing what happened with what you expected to happen in your program logic. 

The goal is not to analyse everything. The goal is to identify the information that helps improve practice, demonstrate outcomes and support learning.

For example:

• If 80% of participants report greater confidence after an activity, this may indicate a positive outcome.

• If multiple participants describe feeling more informed about study pathways, this may suggest increased awareness.

• If attendance was lower than expected, analysis can help explore why.

WP Tip

You do not need large amounts of data to undertake useful analysis. A small number of well-chosen survey responses, reflections, observations or participant stories can provide valuable insights when linked back to your evaluation questions and program logic.

Why analyse information?

Evaluation is not just about collecting information. Analysis helps identify patterns, understand participant experiences and make sense of what the evidence is telling you.

The goal is to understand who participated, what changed, why it changed and what can be improved.

Before you analyse: 

Revisit your program logic - your program logic describes what you expected to happen as a result of your activities. Analysis is your opportunity to explore whether those changes occurred and what contributed to them.

Consider the types of data you have - this will guide what you can analyse, and what analysis method you might use. For example, you may have collected some of the following:

• Who participated? (attendance data)

• What difference did it make? (awareness, confidence, aspiration, or other supporting and primary outcomes)

• Who benefited and were outcomes equitable? (demographics)

• What changed for individuals? (pre and post results)

For example:

Navigating Stage 7

There is one further page under Stage 7. You can access this page, Where to Start, here, or by hovering over Stage 6 across the top navigation tabs. This section is still being developed, so you can expect to see further pages coming soon.